A sneak peek from the market today. I’ll put some photos of the market in another post later but for now, this is how I had my cake toppers displayed. Tired now.

Tags: cake topper, cupcake topper, market, photo of the day, Polymer Clay
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Photo a day, Polyclarific, Polymer Clay

Tomorrow is the first Handmade Children’s Market and I’m quite looking forward to it. I’ve sold my Polyclarific jewellery at a few other markets but this is the first time I’m selling just my cake and cupcake toppers.

Today I have baked two cakes and some cupcakes (to be iced tonight):

These will be display cakes to show my toppers on real cakes.

All the bits and pieces I need to make up my display are ready to go (for the most part).

And I managed to get two more lots of girly cupcake toppers done in time, ladybugs and flowers.

I still have a few things to do but am almost there. The market details are:

Saturday 4th September 2010 at
Melville Civic Centre Main Hall, Booragoon WA
9:00am – 1:00pm
FREE Entry

Tags: cake, cupcake topper, handmade children's market
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Polyclarific, Polymer Clay

This week I’ve continued to have some discussions with a friend about God and who I believe he is. In doing so I’ve been looking up passages, sermons, websites etc… that describe God’s character. Many of these parts of his character I believe to be true without even thinking. Belief in God as described below is like breathing to me. That of course is what Faith is.

I have spent a bit of time looking up those big ‘omni’ words that I was taught years ago that are used to describe God. Thought I’d include a summary of what I came up with in discussions with my friend. This is how I see God’s character:

His Omnipresence – God is everywhere both in Heaven and Earth at the same time, we cannot escape him nor can we fathom how this is possible. Our brains are so finite that we cannot fully picture this as possible but I believe it to be true. (Jeremiah 23: 23-24, Deuteronomy 4:39, 1 Kings 8:27, Psalm 139, Prov 15:3)

His Omnipotence – he is all powerful. He can do anything that he likes but he cannot lie (Titus 1:2) or be tempted by evil (James 1:13). (Jeremiah 32:17, Isaiah 40:25-26, Psalm 115:3, Job 42:2, Rev 1:8, Luke 1:37)

His Omniscience – he is all knowing. He knows our thoughts before we think them, he knows the end of the world and he knows everything about us (Psalm 139). (Psalm 147:5, Proverbs 5:21, Matthew 6:31-32, Isaiah 65:24)

I also believe God to be eternal, faithful, good, holy, immutable, sovereign, long-suffering, loving, transcendent, wise, self-sufficient, self-existent and more.

I think many people get mad at God because they can’t understand why he would allow such suffering in the world. I have to admit that I’ve been mad at God too, actually he cops the worst of my attitude when I’m in a foul mood and things don’t go my way. Bit unfair on God I think. I don’t have the answer as to why God allows suffering in the world but I do not believe that he causes suffering, it doesn’t fit into his character. Instead he allows free-will and in doing that sin came into the world way back when Adam didn’t know what naked meant. I believe that sin effects everything, including nature and nothing will be perfect until Jesus returns and this world ends. In the meantime, God is faithful, good, loving, comforting and is looking after us even when it doesn’t feel that way. To me, believing that is a very big part of faith.

I’d love to read what you’ve learnt this week, feel free to join in on the blog hop and use the banner at the top.

Tags: character, Friday Focus, God
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts, Friday Focus

Yay for nice mail. I don’t get tons of mail, usually its pretty boring (you know, bills!) so it was nice to go out to the letterbox today and have three great pieces of mail waiting for me.

Firstly was my copy of Offspring Magazine, actually my copy of Footprints arrived the other day too. Secondly was my moleskine ready for me to participate in the Art House Co-op’s Sketchbook Project, that will be lots of fun! Lastly was a packet of robot foam stickers ready for the goody bags for Miss K’s upcoming party. Got those very cheaply off ebay and they are done by After School Care Resources!

For now though I have to put it all aside and get ready for the Handmade Children’s Market which is on tomorrow.

Tags: art house co-op, footprints, magazine, mail, moleskine, offspring, photo of the day, robot
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Art, Photo a day

Ten years ago this month we were starting our year of teaching at Sahel Academy in Niger. Ten years. Time really does just whiz by when you’re busy. I’m sure that most of us have a time in their life that they would regard as life changing. It could be a tiny moment or a big one but its that thing that changed the course of their life. Our year in Africa was a year-long moment for us.

They say that Africa gets into your blood and for us thats very true. We recently had a family over for lunch who are from Nigeria, as soon as she walked in she said that she felt at home. Why? Because we have African ‘things’ on every wall in our house. There’s the fulani hat I mentioned the other day, instruments from Niger, a few tablecloths from Benin, baskets, wall hangings and boxes. I have two paintings on my wall that I did after returning from Niger and we have photos around the place too.

It was only a year. It was ten years ago and yet we are still surrounded by Africa. I have other things up too from PNG, Peru and Mexico which are all places we’ve traveled to for missions or to visit but my African bits n pieces have much deeper significance for me.

I can’t help but wonder why, after all, these are just things so I’ve been thinking about that a bit more and here’s what I’ve come up with:

1. Connections – we made some very good friends while in Niger. There are moments and memories that only those friends share with us.

2. We went to Niger to see how we would handle living in a difficult and very different environment. We not only survived but we loved it. It was hot, dry and at times boring (no entertainment and 10yrs ago very very limited internet access) but we have wonderful memories of it all.

3. The kids – We taught at a school of around 60 kids from Kindy to yr 12 and loved it. Neither of us were trained teachers and it was a struggle at times (I taught yr 11 History and yrs 1-12 art) but a great learning curve.

4. A promise – when we were there I remember talking to the kids and they mentioned that they would get a new teacher every year (often short-termers coming for that school year) and it made them feel like they didn’t want to get close to anyone. They said that often after the teacher returned to their own country they wouldn’t hear from them again. I promised them that I would write to them and keep in touch. This was why I started a blog in the first place, a few of them had Xanga blogs and I wanted to be able to comment etc.. I wrote snail mail letters to a few of them, sent a few parcels and now, due to the wonders of facebook have contact with even more of them. Of course most of them are no longer kids, in fact many have graduated from uni (college), married or had babies. A few of them are now missionaries themselves and some are the same age that we were when we were in Niger. Seeing my African stuff reminds me of them.

5. A continued interest – I (and my hubby) am drawn to Niger. We’ve had connections to Peru and Papua New Guinea as well but nothing grabs my attention as much as a news article on Niger. I’m fairly sure we’ll return there one day, whether it be to visit, for short-term missions or long-term.

So, I’ll continue to have African stuff around our house as I think of those in Niger. Here are a few blogs of those who are still there or have been there:

Chats With Cindy
Hannatu’s Happenings
Life In Niger
Niamey Wrights
Inotice
The Black Board
Partnering With Parents

There are more than this but this will do for now.

Tags: Africa, missions, Niger, SIM
Filed under: Africa, All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts, SIM

Yesterday I mentioned the robot stickers I’m making for Miss K’s upcoming 5th birthday party. Above is the stamp I carved for her invitations. I really wanted something simple, innocent and plain rather than bright colours and a bit scary. I quite like carving my own stamps and yesterday I was asked to carve a stamp for payment for the first time! I’d love to add this to my list of custom things I can do. If you had anything in mind then feel free to drop me a note and I can give you prices.

I’m looking forward to her party, its going to be a big pile of robot filled fun!

Tags: invitation, party, photo of the day, robot, stamp
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Art, Darling Daughters, Photo a day

In a few weeks time we are having a robot party for Miss K. I’ve been getting all prepared and have spent hours scouring the shops and Internet for girly robot related items. I’ve pretty much come out empty handed and so have had to be creative. For starters, I couldn’t even find plain ol’ robot stickers, the sort that are not too boyish or scary so I decided to make my own.

I carved a little robot stamp yesterday and stamped all of these. Miss K helped by picking the colours as it was a bit tricky centering the stamp on the plain white sticker. I’m really pleased with them and would love to make these to sell! These will be part of the goody bags.

Tags: party, photo of the day, robot, sticker
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Art, Darling Daughters, Photo a day

My friend Sarah tagged me with this meme so here’s the 10 things that make me happy:

1. My family – spending time in deep conversation or laughing with my hubby or watching the girls play and laugh. This also includes the part of my family that lives in Cairns. I miss them every day.

2. God. He’s always there. He lets me be mad at him and still loves me. He comforts me and reminds me of who I am when I’m down.

3. Creativity. I just love it when an original idea works and if it doesn’t I love the process.

4. Photography – I’m addicted to taking photos.

5. Mail. I just love getting mail, well the good sort anyway. In Africa the mail wasn’t delivered to our house but whenever our guard rode up to our house I had a 2 second ‘wishful thinking’ moment that it was being delivered, his bike sounded just like the postie!

6. Travel – love it.

7. Tea, a simple cup of tea can be a life saver.

8. Op Shopping – love finding a bargain.

9. Music – all sorts but I do love listening to Keith Green, Steven Curtis Chapman or Newsboys.

10. Friends – I have some wonderful, supportive, encouraging friends. Love em!

Ok, I’m tagging Narelle and Jody. Looking forward to seeing what you write.

Tags: happy, meme
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts, Family

I have some new postcards all ready for the Handmade Children’s Market this Saturday. I’ve been working on my display a bit and the little cupcake toppers are ready to go, see!

The market details are as follows:

Tags: cupcake topper, market, Polyclarific, Polymer Clay
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Photo a day, Polyclarific, Polymer Clay

As I’ve already mentioned this last week was full of sickness and recovery. We’re almost there, the girls still have sniffles but its much better than it was. I didn’t do a list last week so theres no review, straight into it then;

Weekly What List for the week of August 31 – Sept 6

Friends
- send birthday cards
- Make some presents

Tags: creative, physical, spiritual, Weekly What List
Filed under: All Sorts of Things, Family, Polyclarific, Polymer Clay, Weekly What List